
Transcriber's Note: The original was typeset in German Fraktur. Text that was s p a c e d - o u t has been changed to *italics*.
A four‑story cycle opens with the flamboyant playwright Mario Malvolto, whose late‑night monologue on love, ambition and fleeting triumph sets a tone of sharp wit and restless yearning. He drifts through a glittering banquet, a moonlit carriage ride, and a cityscape that feels both familiar and strangely theatrical, inviting listeners to hear the echo of a world where art and ego collide. The language ripples between lyrical observation and biting irony, drawing the audience into a Paris‑ish, Italian‑tinted atmosphere that feels both decadent and oddly intimate.
The remaining novellas shift effortlessly from comic sketches to darker, more introspective pieces, each offering a distinct glimpse into lives caught between illusion and reality. Whether following a restless wanderer, a daring woman, or a brief, twisting romance, the stories balance humor with a quiet melancholy, inviting listeners to reflect on the fleeting nature of desire, the masks we wear, and the subtle power of everyday encounters.
Language
de
Duration
~2 hours (137K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jens Sadowski
Release date
2010-02-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1871–1950
A sharp-eyed German novelist and essayist, he used satire to challenge authoritarianism and the social pretenses of his time. His fiction blends political conviction with lively, often biting portraits of power and society.
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